What powers does the Mayor have for planning applications?

All of the applications that have been referred to the Mayor can be found on the planning applications search page.

If you wish to comment on a referable planning application, please send your comments to the relevant local planning authority in the first instance. The Mayor receives all comments received by the local planning authority as a part of the referral process, meaning your comments will be considered by both the local council and the Mayor as a part of the decision making process. You can find the relevant borough website on borough webpages.

As set out above, the Mayor does not have any powers to comment or intervene on applications that do not meet the criteria set out in the order. In these instances please send your comments to the local planning authority or see http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/ for more information. Should you have any concerns about the decision making of the council, you can contact the Local Government Ombudsman (http://www.lgo.org.uk/). Should you wish to appeal any planning decision, you can contact the Planning Inspectorate (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/appeals/appeals).

Accessibility statement

In making his Stage 2 decision, the Mayor may be content to allow the local planning authority to determine the case itself, subject to any action that the Secretary of State may take. In such an instance he would therefore not wish to direct refusal or direct to become the local planning authority.

Under article 6 of the Mayor of London Order (2008), the Mayor has the power to direct refusal on an application that has been referred to him. All of the applications where the Mayor has directed refusal can be found on the direction to refuse applications page.

Under article 7 of the Mayor of London Order (2008), the Mayor has the power to direct that he will become the local planning authority for an application. These are commonly referred to as ‘call-ins’, ‘public hearings’, 'representation hearings' and ‘Stage 3s’.

To be able to take over an application it would have to meet the following three policy tests; as set out in the order:

• the development would have a significant impact on the implementation of the London Plan
• the development would have significant effects that are likely to affect more than one London borough
• there are sound planning reasons for intervention.

Please refer to the order for a definitive explanation of the policy tests.

For more information or to see the applications that the Mayor has called in see our website on the public hearings page

We have produced documentation to guide how decision makers deal with planning matters, and to set the standard of conduct which other parties can expect of them.

The Unified Planning Code of Conduct is in addition to the GLA Code Conduct (see standards of behaviour for more information).

The code has been produced having regard to current best practice and guidance.